Nobody I know looks forward to paying for auto insurance, especially knowing they are paying too much. Big companies like State Farm, Allstate, Geico and Progressive promote their brand names with fancy advertisements and consumers find it hard to ignore the flashy ads and effectively compare rates to find the best deal.
Smart consumers take time to get comparison quotes yearly since rates change frequently. Despite the fact that you may have had the lowest rates a couple years back you can probably find a better price now. There is a lot of bad information regarding auto insurance on the internet, so with this article, you’re going to get some proven techniques to reduce your auto insurance bill.
If you are insured now or need new coverage, you can learn to find the best rates while maximizing coverage. Buying car insurance in Troy is not rocket science. Alabama drivers just need to know the best way to buy auto insurance on the web.
Factors that affect insurance rates
It’s important that you understand the factors that play a part in calculating your auto insurance rates. Knowing what determines base rates allows you to make educated decisions that may reward you with lower auto insurance prices.
- Better crash test results mean better rates – Vehicles with good safety scores are cheaper to insure. The safest vehicles protect occupants better and fewer injuries means less money paid by your insurance company passed on to you as lower rates.
- Do you have enough liability coverage? – Your policy’s liability coverage is the protection if ever you are found liable for causing damage or personal injury in an accident. Liability provides you with a defense in court starting from day one. This coverage is very inexpensive as compared to coverage for physical damage, so do not cut corners here.
- Higher deductibles cost less – Your deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend out-of-pocket in the event of a claim. Coverage for physical damage, commonly called comprehensive (or other-than-collision) and collision coverage, insures against damage to your car. A few examples of covered claims would be colliding with a building, vandalism, or theft. The higher the amount you have to pay, the bigger discount you will receive.
- Your credit rating is important – Credit rating is a huge factor in determining what you pay for auto insurance. Consumers who have high credit scores tend to be less risk to insure as compared to drivers with lower ratings. Therefore, if your credit rating can use some improvement, you could save money insuring your by improving your rating.
- Lower rates with optional equipment – Choosing a vehicle with a theft deterrent system can save you a little every year. Theft prevention devices such as GM’s OnStar, tamper alarm systems and vehicle immobilizers can thwart your vehicle from being stolen.
- Where you live is a factor – Residing in less populated areas can save you money when talking about auto insurance. Drivers in populated areas have to deal with traffic congestion and much longer commute distances. Less people living in that area means a lower chance of having an accident and a lower car theft rate.
- You might want pay the small claims yourself – If you tend to file frequent claims, you can look forward to higher rates. Car insurance companies in Alabama award lower rates to people who file claims infrequently. Insurance coverage is meant to be used in the event of larger claims.
These discounts can slash auto insurance rates
Car insurance can cost a lot, but you can get discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain discounts will be applied when you complete an application, but some must be asked about before they will apply. If you’re not getting every credit available, you are throwing money away.
- Theft Prevention System – Cars that have factory anti-theft systems are stolen less frequently and qualify for as much as a 10% discount.
- Accident Waiver – Certain companies will allow you to have one accident before hitting you with a surcharge as long as you don’t have any claims for a set time period.
- Military Discounts – Being deployed with a military unit could be rewarded with lower premiums.
- Passive Restraints and Air Bags – Factory air bags can qualify for discounts up to 30%.
- Multiple Vehicles – Having multiple vehicles with the same company could earn a price break for each car.
- E-sign – A few companies will give a small break for buying your policy online.
- College Student – Any of your kids who live away from home without a vehicle on campus may be able to be covered for less.
- Discount for New Cars – Insuring a new car is cheaper due to better safety requirements for new cars.
- Discounts for Safe Drivers – Insureds without accidents may save up to 50% more than less cautious drivers.
It’s important to note that most discounts do not apply to the overall cost of the policy. A few only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability and collision coverage. So when the math indicates all the discounts add up to a free policy, you’re out of luck. But any discount will bring down the cost of coverage.
For a list of providers with discount auto insurance rates in Alabama, follow this link.
Do I need a local agent?
Some people just want to sit down with an agent and that is OK! Educated insurance agents can point out coverage gaps and give you peace of mind. The best thing about comparing insurance prices online is the fact that you can find the lowest rates but also keep your business local. And supporting local businesses is important particularly in Troy.
By using this form (opens in new window), the quote information gets sent to insurance agents in Troy who will compete for your coverage. You never need to drive around due to the fact that quote results will go to your email. How cool is that?!
Below are agents in Troy that are able to give price quotes.
State Farm Insurance – 119 Southland Vlg, Troy, AL 36079 – (334) 566-3486
Pinckard Agency Inc – 828 Highway 231 S, Troy, AL 36081 – (334) 808-4333
Troy Flowers Insurance LLC – 1030 S Brundidge St, Troy, AL 36081 – (334) 566-2484
National Security Insurance Co – 101 Tate St, Troy, AL 36081 – (334) 566-3108
Allstate Insurance – 1305 S Brundidge St # E, Troy, AL 36081 – (334) 670-0334
Selecting a company should depend on more than just the bottom line cost. These questions are important to ask:
- What are the financial ratings for the companies they represent?
- Do they have any clout with companies to ensure a fair claim settlement?
- Can they provide you with a list of referrals?
- Which insurance companies are they affiliated with?
- How often do they review policy coverages?
- If they are an independent agency, which companies do they recommend?
After receiving positive responses to all your questions and a low price estimate, most likely you have located an insurer that will provide auto insurance coverage.
Additional reading for auto insurance information
Much more information about auto insurance in Alabama can be found on the website for the Alabama Department of Insurance located here. Alabama drivers can find out industry alerts, download brochures, find out which companies have the most complaints, and file complaints about an insurance agent or broker.
More related Troy auto insurance information:
- Find the Secrets to Saving Money on Troy, OH Auto Insurance
- Professional Techniques to Saving Money on Troy Michigan Auto Insurance
Quote often and quote early
As you prepare to switch companies, make sure you don’t skimp on critical coverages to save a buck or two. In many instances, an insured cut liability limits or collision coverage only to regret they didn’t purchase enough coverage. Your strategy should be to purchase a proper amount of coverage for the lowest price.
We just covered some good ideas how you can compare auto insurance prices online. The key thing to remember is the more rate quotes you have, the better likelihood of reducing your rate. Drivers may discover the best price on auto insurance is with some of the lesser-known companies. Smaller companies may have significantly lower rates on certain market segments than the large multi-state companies such as Allstate, Geico and Progressive.